Devices

Childern Hair Loss Treatment

Treatments for Children's Tinea Capitis


Children's Tinea Capitis: Fungal infection of the scalp, appears as a bare patch of skin on the head, sometimes with itching or scaling. Typically contracted from other children.

Antifungal Treatment: Since Tinea Capitis is a fungal infection, oral and topical antifungals are recommended for treatment. The oral antifungal used is called Griseofulvin. It is a prescription available only through your physician, and is typically taken for up to 8 weeks.

Selenium Sulfide shampoo, used twice a week, has been shown to shorten the course of Tinea Capitis. Topical antifungal creams usually do not help in killing the fungus and shaving the hair or giving the child a close haircut is unnecessary. Even though the infection is still visible, a child with Tinea Capitis may return to school after oral medication is started and the scalp receives at least one washing with shampoo.

Treatments for Children's Alopecia Areata

Because the hair loss can sometimes be psychologically devastating for the child, dermatologists have tried many different medications in an attempt to stimulate new hair growth. Treatments sometimes involve cortisone injections into the hair follicles.

Treatments for Children's Telogen Effluvium

Topical steroids of the mid to high potency range are the most commonly used treatment which may affect a response within 1-2 months. Why some patients respond to these steroids while others do not is both unknown and the subject of much research. Other agents used include anthralin which is a synthetic tar-like substance which causes a mild irritation of the skin inducing hair growth.

Minoxidil has had mixed reviews when in comes to how effective it is. A new agent, Diphenylcyprone (DCP), is currently being extensively studied and positive results are being reported. However, most investigators do not use DCP in children under 12 years because of side effects and safety issues.